Father Capodanno honored with stained glass window at Christendom College in Virginia

FRONT ROYAL, V.A. — Over 55 years ago, one of Staten Island’s own gave his life on the battlefield of the Vietnam War while ministering last rites to wounded soldiers. The Rev. Vincent Capodanno’s legacy has had a profound impact on the Staten Island community, on Christians, and on those around the world.

While the Father Capodanno Guild works to help canonize Father Capadanno in Rome, Christendom College in Virginia dedicated a stained glass window to him in its Christ the King Chapel on April 15, 2023.

Vice Admiral Stephen Stanley, the chairman of the board of the Father Capodanno Guild, thinks it’s a great depiction of Father Capodanno, especially the accuracy of his “penetrating” eyes.

Father Capodanno’s face in the stained glass was based on the lithograph offered to donors as a gift by the Guild, which was depicted by an artist based on a description given by Marines who’d met the legendary priest, according to Stanley.

“There’s a lot in that stained glass that brings out what an amazing person Father Vincent was,” Stanley said.

The stained glass window depicts Father Capodanno in two different scenes from his life.

“Christ died for all of our souls, [and] Capodanno died for the souls of the men that he was there with on that hill,’’ Stanley said. “I see so many parallels between the sacrifice of Christ and Father Capodanno, and you see it in a lot of the saints. I know he’s not canonized yet, but I firmly believe that he is a saint.

“He was just such a positive example of how to be a Christian,” Stanley continued. “It is somebody that they [the students] can look to for this example of Christian behavior, [and] how to do the right thing for people.”

As for the pursuit of sainthood for Father Capodanno, a new Historical Commission is being established in Rome. Father Capodanno’s sainthood effort was suspended in August of 2022, but has since begun to move forward again.

“To many vets, including myself, Father Capodanno was a giant among men,’’ said Lee Covino, a retired Borough Hall military advisor. “He carried the Word of God into the most dangerous of combat situations, while other chaplains sat comfortably in the rear. I don’t see any reason why Father Capodanno shouldn’t be declared a saint. We look forward to the day this becomes a reality.”